Playing your favorite games anywhere has long been a dream that gamers can now make a reality thanks to the best portable consoles on the market. Whether you prefer to play PC games or Nintendo games, the selection is now vast enough to satisfy any portable gamer. In this buying guide, we help you choose the machine best suited to your desires and your budget.
What are the best portable consoles for playing in June 2025
- Steam Deck OLED
- Nintendo Switch 2
- Asus ROG Ally X
- Lenovo Legion Go
- Nintendo Switch OLED
Steam Deck OLED: always a reference
The Steam Deck OLED succeeds where expected: offering an even more enjoyable gaming experience while remaining faithful to the open and versatile spirit of the first version. Its beautiful OLED screen, increased battery life, and compatibility with numerous games, including some major AAA titles, make it a formidable gaming companion, whether for fans of indie games, retro games, or emulation. SteamOS remains the most intuitive interface today, especially compared to some competitors that offer more performance, but are also more complex to use and more expensive. All of this is offered at a very competitive price (€569).
Obviously, not everything is perfect. Battery life, while better, can melt like snow in the sun on the most demanding titles, the design has barely changed, and the fan remains audible, even if it is less noisy than before. Above all, the Steam Deck OLED is now a notch below in terms of performance.
But these compromises seem very minimal compared to the experience offered. This Steam Deck OLED is the ideal version for those who hadn't yet taken the plunge, and a tempting upgrade for buyers of the first model.
Nintendo Switch 2: Nintendo's best portable console
The Nintendo Switch 2 takes everything that made its big sister a success, adding what was missing: power, better finishes, a more comfortable design and social functions Welcome features like GameChat or GameShare. OLED screen technology is conspicuous by its absence, but the Full HD definition and 120 Hz refresh rate of the LCD panel provide real viewing comfort. Nintendo also doesn't skimp on the accessories in the box, which partly compensates for the console's relatively high starting price. You get a dock to connect the console to a TV as well as two controllers included. It doesn't play in the same league as home consoles like the PS5, but in the portable console market, the Switch 2 has nothing to be ashamed of compared to its competitors.
On the disappointing side, we regret a battery life limited to three hours on demanding games, as well as a screen with a calibration that's a bit too cold, as well as a lacking audio section. Added to this is a catalog that's still too light at launch, which could put off the most impatient. But the Nintendo Switch 2 retains this unique ability to combine comfort, accessibility, and continuity with the original Switch. It offers players a familiar, yet modernized, platform. And for that alone, we forgive its few weaknesses.
Asus ROG Ally X (2024): powerful and enduring
With the ROG Ally X, Asus delivers one of the most powerful portable consoles on the market. Its battery life is also impressive (thanks to the 80 Wh battery), especially for a machine capable of running AAA games on the go. Ergonomics have also improved thanks to a new chassis that's more comfortable to hold, and the well-calibrated LCD screen is very readable. We also appreciate the small refinements, such as the presence of two USB-C ports or the well-designed overlay menu for adjusting your settings while playing.
Unfortunately, Windows remains poorly optimized for pure console use. We would also have appreciated a move to an OLED screen to further solidify its upgrade. The price, a bit high considering the performance, could put some off. But overall, this Asus ROG Ally X is arguably one of the best portable consoles for playing your entire PC game library (not just Steam) anywhere, without any major compromises.
Lenovo Legion Go: Size Matters
The Lenovo Legion Go plays the originality card with an XXL format and detachable controllers that are furiously reminiscent of the Switch. This concept, reinforced by an 8.8-inch screen and full compatibility with the Windows ecosystem, has something to appeal to those who want to do everything with their portable console. Once in play, the performance is there, well above that of a Steam Deck and on par with the ROG Ally. And despite a few flaws, it's clearly a pleasure to use.
But the experience isn't without compromise. Battery life suffers from the manufacturer's technical choices, with a 120 Hz QHD+ screen that drains power at high speed. Above all, the panel seriously lacks accuracy in displaying colors, which is frustrating for such an expensive product. As for Windows, it remains difficult to tame in pure console use, which sometimes requires tinkering. The fact remains that this Lenovo Legion Go is an endearing, ambitious, and fun device, but it would have benefited from being more balanced.
Nintendo Switch OLED: it hasn't said its last word
Despite the release of the Switch 2, this Nintendo Switch OLED is not to be dismissed, and this for several reasons. The first is in its name: the presence of an OLED screen remains a major advantage over the second version which opted for LCD. The second lies in its gargantuan game catalog resulting from eight years of marketing. The third is its enormous base of consoles installed in homes (more than 150 million) which guarantees the Switch 1 new games for a few more years before truly handing over to the Switch 2.
Obviously, this OLED version suffers in comparison with its little sister, much more modern. Thus, most of the games are less beautiful and less fluid and Nintendo will offer more and more exclusive titles to its new machine, which is understandable. But if you're looking for a really good portable console for the family, haven't played all of the Big N exclusives yet, and don't have more than €300 to spend on a console, the Nintendo Switch OLED is a great deal. It's also the cheapest in our comparison.
How to choose your portable console?
Should you choose a console running Windows, SteamOS, or the Nintendo interface?
It all depends on your profile. SteamOS (like on the Steam Deck) is designed for gaming, with a smooth, no-nonsense interface. Windows (found on the ROG Ally, Legion Go, etc.) offers more freedom, but often requires navigating menus that are poorly suited to the console format. Nintendo, for its part, offers an ultra-simple, family-friendly, and locked-down interface, perfect for those who just want to play without asking questions.
What are the most important technical criteria to compare?
Battery life, screen quality (OLED vs. LCD), graphics performance, and software compatibility are the main factors to consider. Don't forget about comfort in the hand and the quality of the controls, which are often underestimated.
Can you play all PC games on a portable console?
On a Windows machine, yes: you can install any PC game. On SteamOS, you're limited to Steam (although the hack opens a lot of doors). The Switch, on the other hand, only allows games from the Nintendo ecosystem.
Which console offers the best battery life?
Battery life varies greatly depending on the game and the machine. To date, some consoles like the ROG Ally X last more than 4 hours on demanding games. Others, like the Switch 2 or the Steam Deck OLED, tend to run around 2 to 3 hours for demanding titles.
Do you need a good technical level to use these consoles?
With the Nintendo Switch, no worries: everything is simple and immediate. SteamOS is a good compromise between ergonomics and flexibility. On the other hand, Windows consoles require a little more computer skills (drivers, updates, resolution management, etc.).
Can portable consoles emulate old games?
Yes, especially those running Windows or SteamOS, provided you install the right emulators. The Switch, on the other hand, only allows emulation via its official paid service (Nintendo Switch Online). Remember, if necessary, that emulation is permitted by law, but the games are covered by copyright. Therefore, it is not allowed to play an emulated game that you do not own.
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